The Colour Purple Essays

The Colour Purple Essays The Colour Purple Essay The Colour Purple Essay Essay Topic: Woman of Colour Novel From reading the novel it could be said that the first half is concentrated on how men hold the power over women. This view is supported by Stuart who highlights the exploitation of black women by black men. However I do not agree with this view. I dont think the focus is jus on gender itself although it does play a part, but I think their sex and colour was also brought up. During the novel we see that males dominated females and white families were classed as more important than black families. This was caused by the time in which the novel was set in, slavery had been abolished however it was still in peoples minds and we see it still carried on in some areas of the novel. One example of this is when Alphonso is almost selling Celie. He barters by adding a cow to the deal and points out her positive sides, she aint no stranger to hard work, and she clean. Celie has the power to move on and almost start life again, partly through gaining financial power. This is portrayed to us when Celie leaves with Shug and sets up her own business making pants for women, which had only started as a hobby. However Celie made it work for her, she started making money and became independent as she was making her own money now. I am as Mary O Connor quoted an extract by Gates, Celie writes herself into being. This shows a change amongst Celie showing she believes in herself whereas before at the beginning of the novel she crossed I am out and replaced it with I have. Celie making trousers may have given here this power because they are often looked at as a symbol of freedom for women. Within the context of the time period in the novel, women wearing trousers would have been looked upon as rebellious which itself gives that person a form of power. This however was not true for Albert; after Celie left him he became a mess. He locked himself in the house and Harpo had to go and get him out. Albert, probably shocked that Celie had actually left him later became a changed man who Celie began to like as he was into all kinds of new things like nature. We also find Albert used to sew with his mother, something Celie and Albert now have in common. He says people used to laugh at him and Celie said, well, nobody gon laugh at you now here help me stitch in these pockets. We now see that Albert has started to respect Celie and doesnt just look at her as his own property, took me long enough to notice you such good company. Mary OConner says that Alphonsos exhortation towards Celie at the beginning of the novel gave her a way out. He threatens Celie that she cannot tell anyone what he had done to her apart from god. He tells her she can tell god but no one else or he will kill her mother, you better not never tell nobody but god. Itd kill your mammy. Through the threat from Alphonso, Celie may feel he has power not only over her but also over her loved ones as her mothers life is at risk, as shown by O Connor speaking would be an act of murder, a matricide. By giving Celie the right to write to god he had given her a way out and saved her from becoming insane or mentally ill. Although she cannot tell another person, she has someone to confide in and to share her problems with. The threat from Alphonso supports Stuarts perception that men are mostly troublesome, sometimes cruel. Alphonso here has shown a psychological strength because by threatening her, hes forced her into not speaking to other people about any of her problems and teaching her to keep all her problems to herself. However he is not aware that Celie writing to god allows her to offload and share her problems with someone other than herself. O Connor says that Celies existence to be denied this explains that in her rape experience and also in the fact that she has a lack of voice she is therefore not able to share her bad experience with anyone. However I think she is able to express her feelings through writing so is therefore giving herself a voice and existence which goes against what O Connor states. Walker shows Alphonsos psychological power over Celie in the beginning of her writing letters. Celie crossed out I am. This is almost as if she is crossing herself out. She changes it to, I have always been a good girl. It seems that Celie is taking the blame for what Alphonso has done to her. This is the first time we see an authority figure abuse Celie which reinforces male dominance in her life. The rape not only shows physical power strength and power but also emotional authority, due to Celies naivety, for his own pleasure. Another time in the novel in which we see Alphonsos power over Celie is when he is trying to get rid of her by marrying her off. However its more like he is selling her as they barter, he even throws in a cow. This again relates back and shows how black females in this time period were still being treated as slaves. O Connor tells us her feminist analysis is interested in the voices, as its a male dominated conversation where Celie only gets in a few words on a highly important decision which can affect her whole life. Here Alphonso shows his total power over Celie and the fact that not only does he control her life now, but he also controls her future and how or who she will spend it with. The fact that she cannot decide herself who she wants to marry takes all control away from her. Throughout this Celies voice is absent, and even when its important decisions about her own life she still seems to have no voice. Religion to the lives of the people in the novel was not the sanctuary it might have been according to Mary OConner, Alphonso gave Celie one way out perhaps the result of some dialogical residue of his Christian culture. However Celie received a beating after church, cause he say I winked at a boy in church. The colour purple itself is a symbol of violence which runs throughout the novel as its the colour of bruises. However it can also portray authority as its the colour of royalty. Walker symbolises power through this quote, womanism is to feminism as purple is to lavender. This tells us Walker thinks womanism as a stronger form or feminism as the colour purple is brighter than lavender. Shug tells us that the colour purple is everywhere and that God has used this colour to portray beauty, I think it pisses God off if you walk pass the colour purple in a field somewhere and dont notice it. It can also be said that Gods love for this colour made black people in this complexion as in one of Netties first letters to Celie when she arrives in Africa she talks about the Senegalese peoples skin, So and so is blacker than black, hes blueblack. Celies getting married and it looks as if shes getting away from Albert and also from the abuse and suffering. However we find its going to be the same life for her its just a different set of males throwing and shouting abuse at her, The children be outside the room peeking through the cracks. It all I can do not to cry. I make myself wood. I say to myself, Celie, you a tree. Thats how come I know trees fear man. We can see how unhappy Celie really is, she explains she trys to make herself like wood so that they cannot affect or hurt her anymore. Another section of power in the novel is the physical domination of the women. Celie being a black woman is disadvantaged as not only is she looked upon as a slave but she is also dominated by the male authorities in the novel. She suffers at the hands of men. We can therefore argue that the emancipation proclamation of the post civil war era freed men but not the women because the male authority then saw the woman as their slave which is how Celie is treated by both Albert and Alphonso, we see this when Albert does not get off his horse to meet Celie but also speaks about her in third person, Hes still on his horse. He look me up and down. This shows us his power over her. Alphonso treats Celie like a slave. He shows no respect towards her, from this we can learn that men are not in Celies heart which is why I agree with what Andrea Stuart says, Rather like the weather, men are part of womens (usually) hostile environment, a perennial force to be dealt with daily, but not the centre of their emotional existence. Another male figure that dominates over Celie is Albert. The main and the most obvious way we can see Albert dominates is that Celie does not call him by his name, she calls him Mr. This gives us evidence Albert controls the relationship. This again links back to slavery as slaves would not call their master or owner by their first name. When Albert went to see Celie he did not get down from his horse showing more power due to the fact he is higher and therefore in a higher position than she is, He still on his horse. He look me up and down. Another view of Celie as a slave is the fact that no loving relationship exists, it seems like Celie is there to cook, clean, look after the kids and Alberts needs, so therefore he just uses her, Mr clam on top of me, do his business. She says do his business. From this we see its for Albert and that Celie is being used like a piece of meat and gets no pleasure out of it, He abuses her physically and verbally, humiliates her publicly, and is responsible for her decades-long separation from her much loved sister Nettie. Celie doesnt say anything she lets Albert get on with it, Mary OConnor says, Celies voice would seem to be absent from this account of male voices around her. I also agree with Mary O Connor at this point in the novel, I think Celie had lost her voice from the time Alphonso had told her to write to God but not to tell anyone. However later in The Colour Purple we find that Celie with help from Shug regains her voice, takes a stand and calls Albert by his name and threatens him. She later leaves with Shug and her full confidence back. Albert acts totally different in the two relationships he is in, with Celie he dominates and controls the relationship however in the relationship Albert and Shug share he is the opposite. Shug controls what happens and Albert does anything she tells him to. This also shows us the difference in character of Celie and Shug, Celie is easily controlled but Shug is a strong character. One critics view is some women wear pants; and some of the men wear dresses. Mary OConnor is telling us that in some relationships women can rule and have the men listening to what they say and do as they tell them, this is defiantly true for Shug. We also see that when Albert is with Celie he wears the pants but when hes with Shug he would appear to be wearing the dress. Another relationship where the woman dominates is between Sofia and Harpo. Sofia has total control over their relationship, she holds the power and it seems Harpo hates this. On the other hand it may not be that he hates it but the pressure from society forces him to act in certain ways. Tony Brown says, Love has been drained out by the brutality of a society panic-stricken over black masculinity. This gives us the idea that culture is the main reason for the need to hold power. Harpo is an example of this violence in society, for example when his mother was killed by her boyfriend in front of him. He associates being dominant as a way of asserting himself. He wants the power in the relationship because he has seen the way his father holds the power in his relationship with Celie. We know Harpo wants the power as Sofia tells us once he git on top me I think bout how thats where he always want to be. Harpo confides in Celie and asks what he should do, Celie tells Harpo to beat Sofia to gain control. This advice is surprising but coming from Celie can be understood because she has suffered abuse all her life and she is used to it. Its all she knows and therefore she believes its normal. Power and the placement of it is also shown in the African part of the novel and it is through these tribes we are able to compare Celie with the traditional African way of life. The Olinkas, one of the main tribes that are introduced to us, hold the power of life and death over their wives. The men are also looked upon as better than women in the tribe. The structure of power in that who holds it and who doesnt in the tribe is also shown in Celies life through her being raped and that fact she is not able to enjoy sex with her partner Albert, I know what he doing to me he done to Shug Avery and maybe she like it. The fact that she cannot enjoy it may be cause by Celies feelings and emotions towards males as she has been abused by them all her life. This is supported by Stuarts view that men are never the source of emotional sustenance or long term happiness for women. However this is does not seem true for Shug as she looks happy with her male partners, this may be because she always seems to have control over her relationships. In conclusion I can say that in the beginning of The Colour Purple it is the men who hold all the power, however as new characters are introduced it is slightly more balanced as Shug and Sofia speak there mind and stand up to any man. Also later Celie and Squeak both stand up for themselves, they take control of the situation but also take away the power from the men and hold it themselves. At the beginning of the novel Celie writes to God, she then starts writing to her sister Nettie, this shows a change in her and in the end all her hopes pay off as she breaks away from her abusing husband and lives with her family; her sister Nettie and her kids with Shug.

3 Steps to Create an Online Course From Your Book

3 Steps to Create an Online Course From Your Book 3 Steps to Create an Online Course From Your Book Authors don’t just make money from books. Often, the majority of their income comes from what is behind the books. Recently my friend Gregory was four weeks out from publishing his first book. He had spent the better part of a year writing and preparing to launch his book. Just a few weeks out from the launch he realized he had neglected to think about something important: how was he going to monetize the back end? The journey of self-publishing hits a major milestone with the launch of a first book, but it does not end there. While a well-launched book can certainly earn a good income, if you do not monetize the back-end of the book by  consulting, speaking, or creating online courses then you are not realizing the full potential of self-publishing.As they say, a book is the new business card. But, you can’t just have a business card you need the business behind the business card as well.There are several ways to monetize the back end of a book:ServicesSoftwareConsu lting / CoachingSpeaking / WorkshopsCreate Online Course (fastest and most scalable)While I am biased, my absolute favorite method is to create  an online course. It doesn’t take 6-12 months to develop like a software product would, and it doesn’t rely on your personal time like offering services, consulting, and speaking.Knowing that I specialize in online courses, Gregory reached out to me for help with producing a course for the new book he was about to publish. I’ll be sharing  3 steps to create online courses from your books. With these tips you too can maximize the results of your next (or a previous) book. Imagine if you take every book you have published, which people are buying for $5-$10, and quickly transform the same content into a parallel product for which you can charge 10 to 100 times  that amount.3 Steps to Create an Online Course From Your BookAs the owner of a course production company, people often have the same question when it comes t o turning a book into an online course:What’s the difference? Why would people pay more for the same material?Great question. There are a couple key differences between a course and a book (aside from the obvious differences in format).Step 1 Understand the differences between a book and a courseTone If you were to read your book out loud, verbatim, that would be an audiobook which has a very different feeling to an online course.Focus Again, using the audiobook example, your audiobook might be 15 hours long, while you course is 5 hours long. A large part of the value of a book is exploring the â€Å"why† of a topic or possibly the history, while a course is designed to be extremely actionable. That means the content requires great focus.Specificity Books are filled with great stories and great ideas. They plant important seeds in your mind, and might even have some simple exercises at the end of the chapters. That being said, it takes a lot of effort to apply what you learn from a book. A significant part of the value of an online course is how easy it is to take action. If it’s a course about networking, you can provide email templates, step-by-step guides to follow, software tools you can use. It’s designed to be immediately actionable, while a book on networking might discuss more general concepts on networking such as why it’s a good idea to go to a conference, to make good eye contact, to introduce people to each other, etc.If you want to see some real life examples of the differences, check out the audiobook and the online course version of Gregory’s book to compare (you can do a free preview of each to see what I mean). Both are based on the same content, but the tone, structure, focus, and specificity is quite different. Step 2 Build an online course from a book or a manuscriptHere is the exact process we used to build courses in dozens of different industries, following our Course In A Box Method:1.) Dec ide the Format   There are many ways to build a course. You can build a text-based course, a video-based course that focused on live filming, or on recording your screen while you teach someone to program, or by recording slides as you teach. Usually it’s a mix. You can also have courses two hours long, or 20 hours long. With or without PDF handouts. With or without bonus content (such as expert interviews).Here is what we decided on  for Gregory’s course: Ultimately 3 modules, with 3-5 lessons each The lesson length would average about 10 minutes (although it ranges from 5-15) The content style would primarily be a mix of recording well-designed slides, mixed with bonus content like expert interviews, follow-along PDF guides, etc.Pro tip: How do you decide the course length/structure? One module should bring people through a major milestone. For example, setting up a website before beginning to write content and market the site in later modules. One video should have one clear, stand-alone step in the process. For example, video 3 of module 1 for Building Your New Website might entail setting up the site hosting, video 4 might be configuring wordpress, etc.2.)Turn the manuscript into a course script This means cutting the fat and changing the tone as discussed above. Your course should clearly get people from point A (where they are now) to point B (where they want to go) and this should be clearly reflected by the course script. Even if your book is quite long, you can do this in about a week if you maintain focus3.) Turn the script into a slide plan This is a document which matches up the main ideas in the script with slides that you will be recording. Most people jump straight from script to slide design, but this (quick) intermediary step ensures that your course has a good flow to it and stays organized4.) Turn the slide plan into slides Create a slide template that you like, then customize slides to match your slide plan. Or better yet, outsource this process to a professional.5.) Record the scripts as an audio file Sit down and read your script as enthusiastically as possible.Pro tips: Don’t try to record your screen with the slides at the same time, the quality will be lower. Record the audio separately then match the slides in post production.Leave a pause and say â€Å"SLIDE X† between slides. This will help with the next step, editing.6.) Combine the slides and audio file into a video file Self-explanatory. It is not  recommended that you do this yourself, as a professional likely would do it better/faster. Invest a few hundred bucks to get it done right the first time.7.) Find useful places to add extra materials PDFs, expert interviews, new examples, templates, etc. Just ask yourself every time you say do this, â€Å"how can I help them do that?†8.) Clean up, edit and structure everything into a finalized course Did everything stay organized? We recommend using a google drive folder structure that we link to below to keep things organized.9.) Upload the course to your website If you want the simplest option possible, go with Teachable. This is what we used for Gregory’s course as well. If you want something more sophisticated, go with MemberMouse (another popular option we use with clients).Step 3 Connect the book and the courseNow that youve completed the course, how do you get people from your book to find your course, and vice versa?  The simplest way is to directly link from your book to your course website. However, sometimes people will complain about that approach â€Å"they are just trying to sell their other products!!!†Another way is to direct people to a companion website which offers additional resources and downloads for free in exchange for their email address. Then you will want to set-up an email autoresponder which offers additional value and guides them through the process from having read the book to wanting to delv e  deeper and buy  the course. Pro tip:  Add this download link to the beginning AND the end of the book, and preferably a few times in the middle. Not everyone finishes every book they buy, so you want to make sure they see the link even if they stop after the first chapter. In fact, you can even include the page with the link in the â€Å"free preview† of the book on the kindle store to get even more people to see it.What kind of results would this really get?Let’s say you get 5,000 downloads as part of your book launch, then 1,000 purchases per month after that20% of those people who grab the book also check out the linkThen 50% of the people who visit the page submit their email addressFinally, 10% of those people who join your list also purchase your courseResults:You now instantly have 500 more people on your email list, and 100 more people per month ad infinitum50 people buy your course during your book launch, and 10 more people buy every monthIf your cou rse is priced at $500, then that is $25,000 in additional revenue during your book launch, and $5,000 every month after thatand that, my friends, is the power of combining a book with an online course.I know writing a book is hard (I’ve written several myself) and by the time it’s done and published you may feel done yourself. But, don’t forget that offering a course is your chance to either kick start or rapidly grow your business. The best way to maximize the value of your book is to lead people from your book to discover other parts of your brand.Give the people who  love your book the opportunity to work with you further, either through an online course or through one of the other methods discussed above. Leave a comment with questions about this process, or share your  results creating an  online course from your book.  I look forward to hearing about your success.

Decisions in Paradise Business Scenario, Part 1 Essay

Decisions in Paradise Business Scenario, Part 1 - Essay Example So, in this paper, I as part of ARS Corp will focus on the challenges or problems, which could impede our company’s initiative in Kava. ARS’ initiative After tentatively analyzing the business opportunities in Kava, ARS group wants to initiate the setting up a Business School. ARS’ initiative of Business School would not only aid them in showcasing their expertise in teaching business management skills, but also fulfill their Corporate Social responsibility. Mainly with these two objectives as the goals, ARS Corp can initiate actions and start doing the ground work for it. Importantly, with the Business School by providing constructive education to Kava’s youth and thereby taking care of the social angle, ARS can expect fullest support from the Kava Government as well as its citizens. After Government’s clearance comes through, ARS Corp can channel the needed funds to our basic working group in Kava, so they can start constructing the infrastructure s needed for the school. One can expect maximal support for this initiative from the Kava people because education being a key necessity for their development, the school will surely receive good number of Youth enrolment. Problems that will impede the initiative When we under the ARS Corp launch our initiative it cannot be a smooth sailing affair because we could face problems both in the internal and its external environment, which could not only impede the establishment of the Business School, but could also impede its functioning. The first of these ‘destructive’ problems that could impede the setting up of the Business School is Kava’s continuing problems with the natural disasters. As Kava is located in the naturally volatile Pacific Ocean, it has been subjected to various forms of natural disasters, which includes, Tornadoes and the resultant floods, Earthquakes, Volcanic eruptions, etc, etc. The Business school could face the burnt of these natural disast ers, and it could destroy all its infrastructures. Particularly if the ‘epicenter’ of the disasters is close to the Business School, then it will wreck the infrastructures maximally. With most of the island of Kava exposed to the fury of the natural forces, there seems to be no safe place to initiate the construction of the infrastructures. Physically, natural mishaps may take place which influence a country’s capability to make the most out of using some particular natural assets. (Armstrong and Long, 2004). Although, the construction can be started by incorporating all the needed inbuilt protections using technology, there will be some skeptics, who may question the viability and the success of the initiative, only focusing on the risk factors. If this skepticism enters the mind of the top management as well as the stockholders in ARS Crop, then the flow of finances could be restricted. The other impediment from the financial angle is, the management could rise about the costs that may need to reconstruct the infrastructures, after it has been exposed to a natural disaster. As the natural disaster may not completely pull down the infrastructures, there will be structures standing and to rebuild them, financial resources will be needed. So, this factor also has to be taken into consideration. The other problem, which could impede the

Recommend the ideal country in Latin America where Intel should open Assignment

Recommend the ideal country in Latin America where Intel should open its manufacturing plant, based on the evidence in the case study - Assignment Example However, as only one country needs to be chosen, Intel should consider the benefits and risks associated with manufacturing and operating in either of these countries. It should be noted that Intel's main concern in opening a microprocessor manufacturing plant in Latin America is to strengthen its position in the global market. The rationale of choosing a Latin American country is to distribute risk as it already has a number of production plants in Asia. Also, the preference of a Latin American country is its proximity in the US where the microprocessors will be shipped. Most importantly, Intel is also aware of the more intense rivalry between players in the global market which significantly drives down the price of microprocessors. The company is very concerned with finding a possible way of reducing the cost of production in order to offer the final products at a more competitive rate. Aside from these considerations which were directly mentioned by Intel, the case also developed the idea that the company prefers a country where its expatriate employees who will be in operation and supervision of the manufacturing plant during the start-up stage will be comfortable in the selected site. Also, Intel also explicitly stated its preference for a deal which is done in a transparent and legal way. Intel strongly opposes "special deals" or "special incentives" as it will post problems for the company in the future. 4.0 Alternatives As stated above, four countries which include Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexcico were short listed as the preferred locations. The appendix summarized the result of the research and on-site visit of the site selection team. In terms of workforce availability, all the countries under consideration satisfy Intel's requirements except Costa Rica which still needs further training. It should be noted however, that labor cost in Chile is relatively higher. Costa Rica is the best choice in terms of labor unions and regulations as all the other countries mentioned are significantly unionized. Infrastructure and transportation are excellent and impressive in Chile, Brazil, and Mexico. Though Costa Rica's land transportation is fine, regular flights which are imperative in Intel's operations are lacking. Electricity is cheapest in Mexico at $0.02. As Costa Rica is very much eager to capture huge foreign investments, the government provides various exemptions in terms of tax holidays and discounts. All the other countries are hesitant in giving investment incentives. Expatriates are seen to be better off in Costa Rica and Mexico. Operating in Brazil will require huge taxes while the distance from US and Chile is a concern. 5.0 Recommendation Based on the discussion above, this report recommends that Intel locate its microprocessor manufacturing plant in Costa Rica. This decision is based on the fact that the country has a stable political environment, low level of corruption, attractive investment incentives, and a government which is willing to comply with Intel's requireme

The Influence of Essentialst Attitudes Portrayed in the Modern Day Sitcom on the Views and Beliefs of Modern Society Essay Example for Free

The Influence of Essentialst Attitudes Portrayed in the Modern Day Sitcom on the Views and Beliefs of Modern Society Essay The Influence of Essentialst Attitudes Portrayed in the Modern Day Sitcom on the Views and Beliefs of Modern Society. Throughout its long history, the sitcom has been commonly understood to define the cultural norms of modern society through such comedy techniques as satire and irony. Like modern society, certain characteristics of the sitcom have evolved over time, while others have remained consistent. The evolution of the sitcom coincides with the generational shift in attitudes of society towards certain beliefs and values. So, it would seem that there must be some sort of correlation between the evolution of the sitcom and that of society, as if one is the cause of the other. * * While this can be safely said about the effect of society in shaping the structure of the sitcom, whether the modern sitcom has a significant effect on the views and beliefs of society is debatable. This essay will demonstration that, although the modern version of this genre contains essentialist themes and characters, it does not promote essentialism and therefore does not negatively influence society. From the fifties to the eighties, sitcoms have adhered to a rigid structure involving a live studio audience and certain unchanging characteristics that would define the genre. They also conveyed a very apparent moral code. In the 90’s, Seinfeld’s seemingly non-existent moral code would see it labeled by some as â€Å"apolitical or nihilisticâ€Å" (Gencarella 2005,390). However, even if these aspersions were true, it would not necessarily follow that the audience would agree with these moral values and thus accept them as normal behavior. In any case, Gencarella (2005) argues that, although the four main characters do show an extent of self-interest, their moral behavior does not reflect the teachings of the show. Issues of race, gender and politics are still addressed but are presented in a different way than they were ten to forty years ago. * The ingredients of a successful sit-com consistently involve strong, sometimes iconic characters, which often represent stereotypes. Recent sitcoms have challenged and broadened the idea of traditional stereotypes. For example, Gencarella (2005,394) argues that the four main characters of Seinfeld represent four distinct political stereotypes: the individualist, the hierarchical, the egalitarian, and the fatalist. The way these political stereotypes interact with each other and their community have no doubt contributed to the comicality and thus the success of the show. * Unlike the 2005 sit-com The Office (American version), Seinfeld does not consistently display essentialist traits in its characters. It conveys essentialist themes through satirical situations involving essentialism. This is none more evident than the following example (â€Å"The Yada Yada†), which Gencarella (2005,398) also uses to describe the egalitarian nature of Kramer: * Jerry: Those people can be so touchy. * Kramer:â€Å"Those people. † Listen to yourself. * Jerry: What? * Kramer: You think that dentists are so different from me and you? * They come to this country just like everybody else in search of a dream! * Jerry: Kramer, he’s just a dentist. * Kramer:Yeah, and you’re an anti-dentite! * Jerry: I am not an anti-dentite! * Kramer:You’re a rabid anti-dentite! Oh, it starts with a few jokes and some slurs – â€Å"Hey denty! † Next thing you know you’re saying they should have their own schools! * Jerry: They do have their own schools! Jerry Seinfeld is clearly representing an essentialist point of view towards dentists. The absurdity of the situation, however, entails that this essentialist view is not being endorsed; rather it is being exposed in a ludicrous fashion. It shows the absurdity of prejudice and racism. This draws comparisons, as Detweiler (2012,730) explains, to Randy Newman’s defense of his controversial song Short People. The song criticises short people in an essentialist manner, describing them as having small voices and little beady eyes. Randy Newman explains, â€Å"that by choosing an object of prejudice so absurd, he might expose the absurdity of all prejudice†¦Ã¢â‚¬  * In the case of The Office (American version), Michael Scott is blatantly and shockingly racist, sexist and prejudice. The perception that the audience recognizes this view as essentialist, which is the basis of its humor, reinforces the idea that the text does not endorse this kind of behavior. As Detweiler (2012,730) describes, this is further broadcast by the occasional ironic facial expressions, to camera, of Michaels Scott’s colleague, Jim Halpert. Through the clever use of irony it sets an example of how not to act. * Due to the satirical and ironic nature of the sit-com, the question of whether the inclusion of stereotypes and essentialist views warrant a critique as a conclusively essentialist text depends solely on the audience’s interpretation of the text. The writer’s intention here is irrelevant.

Democratic Development in Dharamsala Essays -- Tibet Government Papers

Democratic Development in Dharamsala The year 1959 brought enormous changes to the life of Tenzin Gyatso, Tibet’s fourteenth Dalai Lama. At the age of fifteen, he was forced to assume political power as Tibet’s supreme temporal ruler. Although the Dalai Lama does not traditionally assume secular power until the age of eighteen, advances made by the Chinese Red Army forced him to ascend to this position prematurely. Needless to say, there was an immense amount of pressure on the teenaged boy: not only was he the religious leader of millions of Tibetans, he was now also their political leader as well. Furthermore, his previous experience with government and international affairs was extremely limited, and he himself did not feel prepared for the position despite the wishes of the people that he become king. When Tibet’s deteriorating situation forced him to furtively escape from Tibet into northern India, the Dalai Lama settled in Dharamsala where he established a government in exile that ruled o ver the Tibetan refugees. Despite countless obstacles and hardships the Dalai Lama has faced, he has handled his difficult situation admirably, developing a form of government new to Tibetans, one based on democratic ideals. Although not all of his ideas and actions have been received enthusiastically by all Tibetans, the past decades have proven that the government as developed by the Dalai Lama best suits the needs of the refugee Tibetans, as democracy best respects their rights and freedoms as individuals. History and Background Until Chinese invasion and occupation, Tibet was what is known as an established religion state, meaning that its government acknowledged and supported the institution and practices of ... ...ral, is up to the Tibetan people, as His Holiness stated in 1969. This statement was an act of true democracy: putting his own desires aside, the Dalai Lama decided to act in accordance with the wishes of the people. He remains encouragingly positive concerning Tibet’s situation; as he has stated, â€Å"Certain of the predictions concerning Tibet’s future make [the] point [that things will turn out well in the end] and I myself have always been convinced of it† (Avedon 359). We can only hope that the wishes of His Holiness concerning Tibet’s future reach fulfillment, and that in the future Tibet will prosper, preserving the rights and freedoms of all individuals, and setting an example for communities around the globe. [1] at least initially – in 1975 the concept of primary elections was introduced for choosing members of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies. Democratic Development in Dharamsala Essays -- Tibet Government Papers Democratic Development in Dharamsala The year 1959 brought enormous changes to the life of Tenzin Gyatso, Tibet’s fourteenth Dalai Lama. At the age of fifteen, he was forced to assume political power as Tibet’s supreme temporal ruler. Although the Dalai Lama does not traditionally assume secular power until the age of eighteen, advances made by the Chinese Red Army forced him to ascend to this position prematurely. Needless to say, there was an immense amount of pressure on the teenaged boy: not only was he the religious leader of millions of Tibetans, he was now also their political leader as well. Furthermore, his previous experience with government and international affairs was extremely limited, and he himself did not feel prepared for the position despite the wishes of the people that he become king. When Tibet’s deteriorating situation forced him to furtively escape from Tibet into northern India, the Dalai Lama settled in Dharamsala where he established a government in exile that ruled o ver the Tibetan refugees. Despite countless obstacles and hardships the Dalai Lama has faced, he has handled his difficult situation admirably, developing a form of government new to Tibetans, one based on democratic ideals. Although not all of his ideas and actions have been received enthusiastically by all Tibetans, the past decades have proven that the government as developed by the Dalai Lama best suits the needs of the refugee Tibetans, as democracy best respects their rights and freedoms as individuals. History and Background Until Chinese invasion and occupation, Tibet was what is known as an established religion state, meaning that its government acknowledged and supported the institution and practices of ... ...ral, is up to the Tibetan people, as His Holiness stated in 1969. This statement was an act of true democracy: putting his own desires aside, the Dalai Lama decided to act in accordance with the wishes of the people. He remains encouragingly positive concerning Tibet’s situation; as he has stated, â€Å"Certain of the predictions concerning Tibet’s future make [the] point [that things will turn out well in the end] and I myself have always been convinced of it† (Avedon 359). We can only hope that the wishes of His Holiness concerning Tibet’s future reach fulfillment, and that in the future Tibet will prosper, preserving the rights and freedoms of all individuals, and setting an example for communities around the globe. [1] at least initially – in 1975 the concept of primary elections was introduced for choosing members of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies.

Describe and explain the changes that take place in land use of the River Tees drainage basin

In the first course of the River Tees, the land is usually not usable. There is snow melt from the mountains, this causes dead area and not crops can be grown and the conditions are too harsh for any animals in Britain to live in. This also causes very snowy, rainy and cold weather which also makes it impossible for pastoral farming. There is also marshy moorlands around the source, so again the land can not be used for any form of faming. There is also the hilly situation. The land is not flat as it runs down then Pennines, the interlocking spurs cause a large difference in land angles and a v-shaped valley is formed around the river. This is not ideal for farming, travelling and, because of the poor weather conditions, the rain will run down the lands, possibly causing floods. A bit lower down the river, the weather is not so extreme and the land is used for sheep grazing. There is not much grass so there is not much available. There is also the Cow Green reservoir, on the Tees itself built in 1970. This means that the water can be controlled by humans, therefore stopping excess water pouring through the river. This means the flood plain is going to be usable for farming because the river flow will be controlled, therefore stopping floods which would ruin the land. This also helps the risk of flooding further down the course by lowering the hydraulic action. High Force waterfall is a large feature of the Rive Tees. It affects the land because it is constantly forming a gorge of recession. This happens because the soft rock, limestone underneath the hard rock, Whinstone is eroded by the water, this causes the hard rock to fall. This cycle is repeated and the waterfall slowly moves up the river. This is also a tourist attraction, which could cause the land to be quite rough due to walkers, tourists and their cars. There is also pastoral farming around the waterfall, because the land is unaffected by the water, due to the low plunge pool. In the middle course, the shape of the river obviously changes. Higher up it was reasonably straight and narrow, with many small tributaries. In the middle course of the Tees, there are many large meanders and the river is very wide and with only a few large tributaries. This changes the land quite a lot. The meanders cause change in the river course. Ox-bow lakes are formed by the large hydraulic action eroding the insides of meanders, cutting of the curve. This will then eventually dry up and leave meander scars on the land. This could mean the scars grow different land to the surrounding area and not suitable in comparison. For example if the land around a meander scar is used for arable farming, but a newly grown section is suitable for pastoral farming, there is wasted land. The meanders are so large that form Darlington to Teesmouth it is 30km as the crow flies, but going by river it is 75km long. And in the 19th centaury, some of the river was manually cut-off to shorten boat journeys up to Stockton and Yarm, so it was even longer. In 1810, the Tees Navigation Company cut the neck of the Mandale Loop, a large meander near Stockton. This shortened the route by 4km and more was artificially straightened. The water now moves faster but the flood risk is also lower. The meanders also cause a higher risk of flood, because the water travels very fast in large quantities. This means the surrounding land is fertile and used for agriculture. In this course of the river, the meanders home a small town called Yarm which is a historic market town. Yarm has a few settlements and a local church. This means the land is civilised and is used for transport and living on. Yarm was once an Inland Port which was prone to flooding. A Flood Defence Scheme was set up in Yarm and spent i2. 1 million on reducing the flood risk. They reinforced concrete walls, built flood gates, used gabions to protect walls and embankments, built fishing platforms and replanted any land that was ruined by floods. In the lower part of the middle course, in-between Stockton and Yarm, a barrage was built in 1995. It cost i54 million to build and controls 22km of river. It was built because it was harshly affecting the surrounding land because of the permanent high tide, resulting in a very high flood risk. Because it has lowered the flood risk and there is also no tidal mix now, it is a catalyst for 500 million of investment in offices, houses, education, leisure and shopping. This obviously changes the land use as it is not used for farming but more economic purposes. The key points of how land use has changed in the Middle course to the upper because it is a lot flatter, has larger meanders and has an urban settlement. In the lower course of the river there are large areas of flat muddy land. This land is used for migratory birds and seals for example, hence why they are called Seal Sands. However, the majority of the land use in the lower course of the Tees in industrial. It homes oil refineries, aluminium smelters, stockyard, railways and more. This causes pollution in the river and the surrounding land, and is both domestic and industrial, because there are also many settlements. This has been helped recently by the Government, who closed down some industry and waste has been cleaned. The land around the mouth of the river is very marshy with some drained land as well. It is impossible to grow crops on and to use pastorally. It is very industrial supporting many boats with imports and boats with exports. It is very urban with large settlements and cities. It is much wider than the rest of the river and the water is very deep for shipping. Bridges have also been made, encouraging the land to be used for transport. Overall, there is a very large change of land use throughout the drainage basin of the River Tees. It starts of being very marshy and in an extremely quiet location, becoming more arable and pastoral, then small settlements are introduced. Next the farming is not longer appropriate and the settlements are larger, with a very large industrial area at the bottom of the river.

Society’s Perception of Affirmative Action

I both agree, and disagree with what the author is saying in this article. He starts by saying that our chances of succeeding are influenced by the generation of our family that came before us, and by our network of friends and acquaintances. He applies the term â€Å"social capital,† to this. He then goes on to say that the government needs to take responsibility for ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity get a job, be accepted into a university, or move up in their company. The next five paragraphs are spent arguing against â€Å"color-blind absolutism,† that is, the idea that we should ignore race altogether. To this point in the article, I could not agree more. I believe most rational thinking people learn from their parents, older siblings and even their extended families. They see the mistakes that their families made and want to do better. In my family for instance, I am the youngest of six children. My parents grew up in farming communities and had little or no education. I was the first in the family to go straight through high school and graduate. Only the four youngest of six children received a high school diploma or equivalent, and only myself and one of my brothers has had any education beyond that. I see this as a natural evolution that takes several generations. Some of my older siblings did not see the value of an education, or of planning your future and setting goals. While I saw the mistakes they made, it took me several years to realize that my success was dependent on setting goals, and the actions I took to achieve them. I also agree with the author assertion that society cannot be completely colorblind. We do not need to pretend that we are not different, we need to accept and embrace each other's differences. We need to recognize and respect the each other's cultures. Color and race will forever be used, just as height and weight are used to describe people. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging our differences, as long as we do not perceive those differences as negatives. I have to disagree with the remainder of the article. He has taken offense, apparently, to the perception that blacks need to be given preferential treatment to achieve a degree of success. I believe that he is arguing that affirmative action is demeaning to blacks, but what he should be arguing against is not affirmative action, but white society's perception of affirmative action. Used as it was intended, affirmative action does not give minorities preferential treatment, it gives them an opportunity to compete with other applicants of equal qualifications. Human nature being what it is, opportunities do not always present themselves solely because of a persons skills, qualifications, or persistence. I recently read that a high percentage of positions are filled not through newspaper ads, or recruiting agencies, but through word of mouth. The best place for employers to look for new employees is often from their current employees. If this is true, then unless your work place is already racially diverse, most of your new hires are likely to come from similar racial or ethnic background as the majority of your workforce. Breaking this cycle takes a conscious effort. I believe this is the case in organized labor organizations. Perhaps there is no conscious effort to keep blacks or minorities out, but a desire to get one's family and friends in, so that they too may enjoy the benefits of a good job. I believe I benefited from affirmative action when I joined the union apprenticeship program. Had it not been for the pressure applied on unions to diversify, there is little doubt in my mind that someone's son or nephew would have received that position. And that person would most likely have been a white male. The intention of affirmative action is to level the playing field, not to tilt it in the direction of minorities. If it is improperly used, we must not blame the program; we must blame the people that are administering it. Universities should not lower standards, but encourage academically qualified minorities to apply and support programs that help increase the pool of qualified applicants. While it is true that an individuals success depends largely on that individuals own drive and self determination, history has taught us that things are not going to get better without some governmental intervention.

An insight into baroque and rococo art essays

An insight into baroque and rococo art essays During the baroque period of great theatrical energy, and a dramatic use of light, scale, and balance, French artists adopted Italian Renaissance ideas but made them their own; by the end of the seventeenth century, France had began to take the lead in European art. Early eighteenth-century France, the heavy theatrical qualities of Italian Baroque art gradually gave way to the decorative Rococo style, a light, playful version of the Baroque. The curved shapes of shells were copied for elegantly paneled interiors and furniture, and they influenced the billowing shapes found in paintings. The enthusiastic sensuality of the Rococo style was particularly suited to the extravagant and often frivolous life led by the French court and aristocracy. Some of the movement, light, and gesture of the Baroque remained, but now the effect was one of lighthearted abandon rather than dramatic action or quiet repose. Rococo paintings provided romantic versions of life free from hardships, in which cou rtships, music, and festive picnics filled the days. The conversion of Saint Paul is a fantastic example of the Baroque period in all its glory, encompassing many of its characteristics. In the oil on canvas piece, painted in 1601, The Conversion of Saint Paul, Caravaggio used light to imply a blinding flash, symbolizing the evangelists conversion: And suddenly there shined around him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth (Acts 9:3). The figure of Paul, in Roman dress, is foreshortened and pushed into the fore-ground, presenting such a close view that we feel we are right there. In keeping with the supernatural character of the spiritual events he portrayed, Caravaggio evoked a feeling for the mystical dimension within the ordinary world. He wanted his paintings to be accessible and self-explanatory, and for this purpose he brought the emotional intensity of his own rowdy life to the stories of the bible....

The Dust Veil Environmental Disaster of AD 536

The Dust Veil Environmental Disaster of AD 536 According to written records and supported by dendrochronology (tree ring) and archaeological evidence, for 12-18 months in AD 536-537, a thick, persistent dust veil or dry fog darkened the skies between Europe and Asia Minor. The climatic interruption brought by the thick, bluish fog extended as far east as China, where summer frosts and snow are mentioned in historical records; tree ring data from Mongolia and Siberia to Argentina and Chile reflect decreased growing records from 536 and the subsequent decade. The climatic effects of the dust veil brought decreased temperatures, drought, and food shortages throughout the affected regions: in Europe, two years later came the Justinian plague. The combination killed perhaps as much as 1/3 of the population of Europe; in China, the famine killed perhaps 80% of people in some regions; and in Scandinavia, the losses may have been as much as 75-90% of the population, as evidenced by the numbers of deserted villages and cemeteries. Historical Documentation The rediscovery of the AD 536 event was made during the 1980s by American geoscientists Stothers and Rampino, who searched classical sources for evidence of volcanic eruptions. Among their other findings, they noted several references to environmental disasters around the world between AD 536-538. Contemporary reports identified by Stothers and Rampino included Michael the Syrian, who wrote: [T]he sun became dark and its darkness lasted for one and a half years [...] Each day it shone for about four hours and still this light was only a feeble shadow [...] the fruits did not ripen and the wine tasted like sour grapes. John of Ephesus related much the same events. Prokopios, who lived in both Africa and Italy at the time, said: For the sun gave forth its light without brightness, like the moon, during this whole year, and it seemed exceedingly like the sun in eclipse, for the beams it shed were not clear nor such as it is accustomed to shed. An anonymous Syrian chronicler wrote: [T]he sun began to be darkened by day and the moon by night, while the ocean was tumultuous with spray, from the 24th of March in this year till the 24th of June in the following year... The following winter in Mesopotamia was so bad that from the large and unwonted quantity of snow the birds perished. A Summer Without Heat Cassiodorus, praetorian prefect of Italy at the time, wrote: so we have had a winter without storms, spring without mildness, summer without heat. John Lydos, in On Portents, writing from Constantinople, said: If the sun becomes dim because the air is dense from rising moisture- as happened in [536/537] for nearly a whole year [...] so that produce was destroyed because of the bad time- it predicts heavy trouble in Europe. In China, reports indicate that the star of Canopus could not be seen in as usual in the spring and fall equinoxes of 536, and the years AD 536-538 were marked by summer snows and frosts, drought and severe famine. In some parts of China, the weather was so severe that 70-80% of the people starved to death. Physical Evidence Tree rings show that 536 and the following ten years was a period of slow growth for Scandinavian pines, European oaks and even several North American species including bristlecone pine and foxtail; similar patterns of ring size decrease are also seen in trees in Mongolia and northern Siberia. But there seems to be something of a regional variation in the worst of the effects. 536 was a bad growing season in many parts of the world, but more generally, it was a part of a decade-long downturn in climate for the northern hemisphere, separate from the worst seasons by 3-7 years. For most reports in Europe and Eurasia, there is a drop in 536, followed by a recovery in 537-539, followed by a more serious plunge lasting perhaps as late as 550. In most cases the worst year for tree ring growth is 540; in Siberia 543, southern Chile 540, Argentina 540-548. AD 536 and the Viking Diaspora Archaeological evidence described by Grslund and Price shows that Scandinavia might have experienced the worst troubles. Almost 75% of villages were abandoned in parts of Sweden, and areas of southern Norway show a decrease in formal burials- indicating that haste was required in interments- up to 90-95%. Scandinavian narratives recount possible events that might be referring to 536. Snorri Sturlusons Edda includes a reference to Fimbulwinter, the great or mighty winter that served as a forewarning of Ragnarà ¶k, the destruction of the world and all of its inhabitants. First of all that a winter will come called Fimbulwinter. Then snow will drift from all directions. There will then be great frosts and keen winds. The sun will do no good. There will be three of these winters together and no summer between. Grslund and Price speculate that the social unrest and sharp agrarian decline and demographic disaster in Scandinavia may have been a primary catalyst for the Viking diaspora- when in the 9th century AD, young men left Scandinavia in droves  and sought to conquer new worlds.   Possible Causes Scholars are divided concerning what caused the dust veil: a violent volcanic eruption- or several (see Churakova et al.), a cometary impact, even a near miss by a large comet could have created a dust cloud made up of dust particles, smoke from fires and (if a volcanic eruption) sulfuric acid droplets such as that described. Such a cloud would reflect and/or absorb light, increasing the earths albedo and measurably decreasing the temperature. Sources Arrhenius B. 2012. Helgà ¶ in the shadow of the dust veil 536-37. Journal of Archaeology and Ancient History 2013(5).Arjava A. 2005. The Mystery Cloud of 536 CE in the Mediterranean Sources. Dumbarton Oaks Papers 59:73-94.Baillie M. 2007. The case for significant numbers of extraterrestrial impacts through the late Holocene. Journal of Quaternary Science 22(2):101-109. doi: 10.1002/jqs.1099Baillie MGL, and McAneney J. 2015. Tree ring. Climate 11(1):105-114. effects and ice core acidities clarify the volcanic record of the first millennium of the PastChurakova OV, Bryukhanova MV, Saurer M, Boettger T, Naurzbaev MM, Myglan VS, Vaganov EA, Hughes MK, and Siegwolf RTW. 2014. A cluster of stratospheric volcanic eruptions in the AD 530s recorded in Siberian tree rings. Global and Planetary Change 122:140-150.Engvild KC. 2003. A review of the risks of sudden global cooling and its effects on agriculture. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 115(3–4):127-137. doi:10.1016/s0168-1923(02 )00253-8Grslund B, and Price N. 2012. Twilight of the gods? The ‘dust veil event’ of AD 536 in critical perspective. Antiquity 332:428-443. Larsen LB, Vinther BM, Briffa KR, Melvin TM, Clausen HB, Jones PD, Siggaard-Andersen M, Hammer CU, Eronen M, and Grudd H. 2008. New ice core evidence for a volcanic cause of the AD 536 dust veil. Geophysical Research Letters 35(4)Rigby E, Symonds M, and Ward-Thompson D. 2004. A comet impact in AD 536? Astronomy Geophysics 45(1):1.23-1.26

Product Design Project Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Product Design Project - Term Paper Example Being a client representative, the project manager provides the consumer with online access to various reports on the project progress, and other documentations so they can follow the progress of a project (Lock, 2007). Introduction Nokia is a global provider of mobile phones whose headquarters are based in Finland which started out as a wood pulp mill in 1856 in Finland (Monaghan, 2013). The company majors in producing mobile cell phones and portable technological devices as well as internet services like games, applications, media, music, messaging and navigation services. Before 2012, Nokia was the largest mobile phone vendor globally but the growing popularity of touchscreen smartphones has reduced its market shares and subsequently fallen from its position of glory. Over the past few years, financial problems have seen the downsizing of its staff and eventually Microsoft purchased the company, although finalization of the deal is still ongoing (Monaghan, 2013). Thesis: discuss t he project management of a design process of a phone in the Nokia Company with detailed view of the schedule and duration as well as the ethical and diversity issues considered in the undertaking of the project. The paper aims to show ways in which the product design process can be modified to improve on the process and the effects of changing the organization of the chronology of the steps of the process. The main challenge of managing a project process is to meet the project objectives within the limitations of time, quality, funding, scope, deliverables and other constraints (Nokes & Kelly, 2007). Project management utilizes the use of a SWOT analysis to address issues in a design process. A SWOT analysis, acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, is a process that identifies the various strong and weak points of a product, design process or company resulting in an appropriate plan of action (Luo & Design 2004). Method Information was collected by the supervis ors during the scoping of the project through online forums for developers and customers reviews through emails and the company website and SWOT analysis implemented on the data collected. This provided the project management with the necessary work structure required to undertake the various activities in the project effectively. Strengths Nokia is a global company that provides quality service to its consumers and hence attracts quality employees all around the world providing job opportunities and satisfying consumer needs (Haikio, 2002). It invests in producing products that are simple in structure depending on the sale value of the product. This ensures the product is safe from damage of the screen and other delicate parts due to low impact unlike other companies’ products which are completely vulnerable to damage on low impact. The Symbian technology in Nokia phones is stable and user friendly and when compared to the android platform, Symbian phones are less likely to crash due to software complications. The incorporation of windows mobile by Nokia was also a major step in the improvement of the phone experience of Nokia consumers. The company provides applications from its developers as well as third party developers through its website or through pre-installed applications. For similar market prices with most android phones, Nokia provides better camera capabilities in its products. The company pro

Whitbread World Sailboat Race Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Whitbread World Sailboat Race - Assignment Example In addition to the higher costs, there is always the potential danger of the quality of the project getting deteriorated due to the rushing of various activities. This problem is often encountered in construction projects where there will be disputes on the delay in the completion as well as the low quality of construction. Another area where the crashing of the project duration is important is the development of a new product that needs to be brought to the market before the competitor does to take the first mover advantages. It may be noted that in these cases the market determines the duration of the project for the development and introduction of the product. For instance, the chance that the firms using moderate to high technology may lose up to 30 percent of the market share with a delay of six months is a factor that drives such firms to crash their new product development project to be completed within or before the stipulated period. Under those circumstances, the firms do not mind the additional costs being incurred in the completion of the project than budgeted as otherwise there is the likelihood they may lose a sizeable market share. With this background this paper presents a report on ways and means for the reduction of the duration of the Whitbread Sail Boat Project which involves the des ign and construction of a sailboat for the Sail Boat team of the company ‘Whitbread’ and the training of the crew so that the sailboat constructed could take part in the World Sail Boat Race. Bjorn Ericksen Project Strategy Analysis The project relates to the design and construction of a sailboat and training of crew to enable. them to take part in the Whitbread Sail Board Race. The boat race is being conducted every year with countries entering their sailboats in the nine-month Round the World Whitbread Sailboat Race. During the recent races, about 14 countries from different parts of the world have entered their sailboats in the race.